I'm considering a dog GPS tag/collar for Holly after an "incident" today. BIL came over to relocate his tree stand, so he takes off on the quad, Wife and I were inside at the time. I had just gone in to change shirts as I was leaving the property, she was working on laundry. He phones me a minute or so later asking if I want Holly following him up on the hill. I say no, send her home, then I come outside to call her. She doesn't come back!!!!!! I go up to try and bring her back down, but she is completely gone. She doesn't wander far in the woods without me, so that's odd. Spent half the day wandering the woods calling for her, to no avail. Thankfully she turned up, and is alright. Anyone use GPS locators on their dogs? If so, what's recommended?? DaveGunter ? I've been a mess of worried/aggravated/angry all afternoon. Kinda takes the wind out of ones sail's. My legs will be mush tommorow.
What am I thinking?? After WeldrDave posted about phones n such. There's the answer, I'll just get her a smart phone. I can track her, and she can call to let us know she'll be home late. All kidding aside, I'm truly relieved.
I run the Garmin alpha. Worth every penny. It's going on 4 years now and has never given me any problems. It tells you the dogs location, speed, shows the path travelled, if the dog is treed, sitting, etc.
I use the Garmin Alpha system. It is a combination GPS and ecollar. The ecollar part lets you send a signal to the dog in the form of a tone, vibrate or a electric shock. You can control the intensity of the shock. It is a very reliable system but pricey and worth every penny to me, but I'm out in the backcountry with five active hounds daily. There are other systems out there that don't incorporate the ecollar into the system so it is just a tracking system, that are less money. Garmin Astro is one also very high quality, there are others. I would look at https://www.dusupply.com GUN DOG SUPPLY reviews Hunting Dog Training Collars & Supplies for Retrievers & Bird Dogs
Thanks guys, I will be shopping. This is a first for her, but not knowing where she was, if she was injured.. Can't have that.
One thing for sure is that a dog will almost always come back home. It might not be right away but they will come. Many moons ago I was out rabbit hunting and the dog took off. I waited thinking the dog would run a rabbit to me but no, the animal just took off and never came to my call. After a few hours I gave up and went home. Two days later when I got up, the dog had found its way back home.
Yes, and that wonderful homing instinct. It is surprising how many animals have that. I have to laugh every summer when people won't kill a coon but will live trap them and then take them a mile or so down the road and let them loose. One family told me they must have a whole herd of them because they live trap one every night and there seems to be no let up. I asked how far they were taking the coon and they said a whole mile away! Right... Why waste the time?
Couple of things here, if you are not on your home turf and you just can't wait, leave an article of clothing where the dog left you and come back as soon as you can and the dog will likely be waiting for you. And as Chaz mentioned, injury can be a real concern, or traps, or a medical problem. One of my dogs surfers from sporadic seizures that can really throw her for a loop. The big advantage of the gps for me is that you can "see" the dog even when its out of your immediate sight. Ever had a dog that would listen to you until it knew it was out of your sight?...it's a learned behavior and can be very frustrating and you are powerless to correct it. With the gps, you can always see the dogs reaction to your command and correct it if necessary. My dogs know that if they don't listen to my recall, they will get a gentle reminder. The other thing is if the dog has strong hunting drive and it is on a hot scent, it can be so distracted by the scent that it literally doesn't hear your recall command, a quick correction and you can break the dogs focus on the scent and back on you.
I can certainly relate to that. If she starts digging on a chipmunk burrow, I no longer exist. I literally have to get within a few feet of her to get her attention.
Shoot, I know many men and women who are the same. They get a hot scent of some wild times and there is no breaking their concentration.
At least she came back. Others are not so fortunate.... I don’t think you have to worry about this until global warming hits us with full force... of course by then we will all have moved further north so we can continue to burn wood.. Used to go swimming in the Blackwater River in FL.... After reading his article, not so much... Dogs Tracked Down Electronic Tracking Collars Reveal Final Destination
I send my problem animals down the 410 highway...that keeps them from coming back! I am not making light of killing, but I firmly believe in NOT sending problem animals like skunks and raccoons and even dangerous livestock to other farms. I believe it is my responsibility to keep my place safe, and not pass problem animals on to other people. I am a little nervous at my current dog though. I love her to death and she has done her job so well these last few years saving many, many lambs and killing fox and coyotes, but she is getting old and is nearing retirement. I am not sure how she will transition from sheep dog (always with the sheep 24/7/365) to being a house dog. I know one thing, we WON'T have to ever lock the door. Did I mention her killing fox and coyotes! She is protective!
In some places, that would also be a more legal way of dealing with them.. Moving wildlife Moving wildlife is illegal, ineffective, and often harmful to the animal. Read on to find out why. Moving wildlife
Leaving a dog to come home in this part of the world is leaving them to their death. Wolves, cougars and even bears are a problem even within our community. I wish I could find small (extra small?) GPS tracking units.
You are more than welcome to try and put a Little Red Dress on my dog Duchess, but as my truck driver once said, "She looks so pretty sitting on the hill looking over her sheep, but I think it would be different if I put my hand inside the fence.". Yep!
